Adjustable crutch



April 3, 1951 K. M. HILGEMAN ADJUSTABLE CRUTCH Filed March 4, 1946 m r 4 mm w fi 173 m Patented Apr. 3, 1 951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE CRUTCH Kenneth M. Hilgeman, Portland, Ind.

Application March 4, 1946, Serial No. 651,715

. 3 Claims. (01. 135-52) This invention relates to improvements in an adjustable crutch, an object of the invention being to afford a crutch structure so constituted as to permit adjustments by which to vary the over-all length of the crutch and secure it in selected positions of adjustment while in actual use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crutch structure with a hand-grip so arranged in connection with the props of the crutch as to be readily adjusted relative to the arm-pit rest and said props and secure them in selected positions of adjustment by manipulation of the hand-grip during use of the crutch without resort to tools, or temporary disuse of the crutch.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crutch with an arm-pit rest that has limited swinging movement in opposite directions and is yieldingly restrained in its movements from a central position to accommodate swaying of the load on the crutch during action, thus avoiding friction between the crutch and the arm-pit.

And a further object of the invention is to afford a crutch having telescopic prop members provided with expansion springs, and having in connection therewith a hand-grip and locking means controlled by said hand-grip, by which to secure the telescoping members in selected positions of adjustment, and so arranged that the hand-grip is also adjustable on the prop members and secured thereon in selected positions by manipulation of the hand-grip, thus to permit both adjustments to be made concurrently.

Other objects and advantages of the invention appear in the following description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a structure in which the invention is incorporated, portions thereof being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a view showing a vertical section of Fig. 1 on the-line x-x thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the crutch bridge,- shown in section upon the line a:-:t of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of the crutch bridge in a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail elevational view showing the clamping connection of the handgrip and one of the telescoping props; and

Fig. 6 is a detail elevational view of a part of the arm-pit rest, shown in section on the line a:x of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are drawn to an increased scale.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a crutch structure having a pair of parallel prop members, indicated generally by A, each composed of telescoping tubes 1--8, said members being spaced apart from each other. The upper ends of the tubes 1 are connected together by an arcuate bridge 9, and the lower end portions of the tubes 8 are bent inwardly and united, their lower terminals being secured together in a common socket II] that forms the foot of the crutch.

Within the upper portion of each tube 1 is disposed an expansion spring II, the opposite ends of which bear respectively against the'top wall of the bridge andthe upper end of the corresponding tube 3, the arrangement being such as to urge movement ofsthe tubes 1 upwardly relative to thetubes 8, thus to lengthen the crutch.

In the opposing sides of the tubes 7 and 8 are made longitudinal slots l2 and I3 that are alined with each other and overlap.

Between the tubes 1 is disposed a hand-gri [4 having therein a floating bar I5, the midportion of which is square or polyognal, and fits loosely in the bore of the hand-grip which is likewise shaped, the end portions l6 of the bar being round and the outer terminals thereof being threaded. On each end portion of the bar is disposed a jaw ll, that fits against the corresponding adjacent face of the tube 7, and which is provided with a shoulder l8 that bears against the corresponding end of the hand-grip l4, and has also a hub it that extends loosely into the hand-grip, the arrangement being such as to permit turning of the hand-grip and the bar relative to the jaw.

Within each of the tubes 8 is disposed a second jaw 29 having threaded relation with the corresponding threaded terminal l6 of the bar M. The end portions of said bar extend loosely through the slots l2 and I3 in the tubes 7 and 8, the arrangement being such that, upon turning of the hand-grip, the bar thereupon is likewise turned, causing the tubes to be clamped between the jaws H and 20 which prevents relative longitudinal movement of the telescoped tubes, or released to permit relative movement thereof, accordingly as the hand-grip is rotated in one direction or the other. It is essential that each pair of jaws be activated alike and concurrently, and for this purpose the .threads on the ends of the bar and in the corresponding jaws 20 are made right and left handed respectively, so that turning of the hand-grip in one direction, as clockwise, tightens the jaws, and upon turning of the hand-grip in the opposite direction, as

a counter-clockwise, releases the grip of the jaws on the corresponding telescoped tubes thus permitting relative longitudinal movement thereof, and also permits vertical adjustment of said hand-grip and the jaws with respect to the prop members.

The bridge 9 preferably is formed of like parts 9 and 9", oppositely disposed and shaped to receive the upper ends of the tubes l which are secured in sockets 2] formed in said parts by any suitable means. The midportions of the bridge parts, in their lower portions, are grooved to provide an arcuate raceway 22, and adjacent each end of the bridge, above the raceway is disposed a roller 23 that turns freely upon a pintle 24, the projecting ends of which are upset so as to aid in securing the bridge-parts together.

An arm-pit rest 25 surmounts the bridge, and consists of an arcuate base 26 that rests upon the rollers 23 and has swinging movement thereon, there being a pendent lug 2 that extends into the raceway 22, and is engaged by opposing springs28 confined in the raceway, so that said base is normally held centrally with respect to the bridge. Preferably, upon the base 25 is secureda cushion 23. formed of sponge rubber, felt, or other wadding material. lhe lower marginal portions 29 of the cushion is made more compact than the overlying portion thereof in any suitable manner. For instance, when the cushion is made of rubber or the like, the lower portion is more thoroughly cured, thus to facilitate securing of the cushion to the base by any suitable attaching means. The exri r f e Puebl s i pr v e i a se e i 36], preferably of leather or other suitable wearresisting material. When in operating position, the arm-pit rest is held connectionwiththe bridge by the lug 21, the lower end of which is enlarged and fits loosely within the raceway and has movement therein in opposite directions, limited by opposition of the opposing spring 28. The upper face of the base 2% has an upstanding bead 3} that iscontinuous lengthwise throughout the arcuate portion thereof, and the lower face of the base or" the cushion is shaped to fit the bead, thus to: prevent lateral disalinement of the cushion with respect to thebase.

Operation In use, the crutch is grasped by the handle, and the arm-pit rest is positioned as in the usual manner into the crotch of the shoulder. Then, by manipulation of the handle, the jaws are loosened when the handle is turned in one direction, as counter-clockwise, which permits telescopic movement of the prop tubes in either direction lengthwise, upwardly by urge of the springs H with consequent lengthening of the crutch, or downwardly by weight of the person using the crutch, which causes downward movement of the arm-pit rest and shortening of the crutch, and coincidentally permitting vertical, adjustment of the handle relative to the telescoping tubular props. Both of these adjustments are made cone currently, and after the over-all length of the crutch and the position of the handle have, been determined, the handle then is turned in the opposite direction, as clockwise, to close the jaws, thus securing the telescopic tubes and the handle, in the positions into which they respectively have been adjusted. By this arrangement of parts, a personfusing the crutch is enabled to adjust and readjust the crutch structure with respect to its over-all length as well as the height of the handle, and then secure the parts in selected positions of adjustment while the crutch is being used. This feature of the invention i especially desirable as it permits immediate readjustments to be made during actual use of the crutch which is advantageous. For instance, increasing or decreasing the length of the crutch compensates more or less for the varying amount of attire worn by the person using the crutch. Furthermore, by adjustment of the crutch length and location of the r handle, the weight of the person is borne by the the adjustments made.

arm-pitrest and handle equally, or shifted to one or the other selectively as desired, according to In this manner the load of the pg son is conveniently shifted from the arm-pit rest to the handle, or vice versa, at will while the person using the crutch is standing erect or in full stride. This is much to the relief and comfort of a person using the crutch.

Variations from the particular construction abovedisclosed may be resorted to by the exercise of skill in the art, without departure ftomthe spirit orscope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A crutch structure the upper end of which has an arcuate bridge, an arm-pitrest having an arcuate base overlying the bridge and provided with a pendent lug, and compression springs disposedwithin the bridge acting oppositely against said lug whereby. the arm-pit rest is .yiel. .ingly held innor nal position.

2- A cr t h co sing pr m e s t e lower ends of which are secured together toform a-iQ t. arid es c r d an onne t n t upper ends of said members, said bridge havin therein a longitudinal raceway, rollers pivotedin the-bridge adjacent each end thereof, an armepit rest overlyin the bridge, bearing on said rollers and having a lug that projects through a slot, in the bridge into said raceway, and compression springs disposed within said raceway acting oppositely against saidl ug and tending to hold said rest innormal position.

3. A crutch comprising a prop structure, a member disposed transversely on the upperend of such structure provided with a transverseraceway therein, an arm-pit rest, overlying said member,hav-ing longitudinal movement relative thereto and; provided with a lug that proj ectsthrough a lot said m m eri sai y. a d: s in s disposed intheracewayacting oppositely against said lug,that tend to hold said rest in normalposition.

KENNETHM. HILGEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofzthis patent:

UNITED STATES ATE T Glowacki Dec. 20, 1921 

